Bandage winder



June 23, 1970 I R, El 3,516,618

BANDAGE WINDER Filed July 17. 1968 Fig. 4

84 Richard F Rein/re INVENTUR.

4Q 62 56 BY Fm 36 Switch formofor 30 64 68 I2 United States Patent M 3,516,618 BANDAGE WINDER Richard F. Reinke, P.O. Box 272, Deshler, Nebr. 68430 Filed July 17, 1968, Ser. No. 745,522 Int. Cl. B65h 75/02 US. Cl. 24260 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A winder for bandages, particularly stretch bandages, including an electric motor driving a spindle through a reduction gear. A tension control device and switch actuator is provided for varying the tension on the bandage as it is wound onto the spindle and enabling accurate control of the electric motor by locating the control switch therefor in a position where it may be actuated by merely depressing the arm on which the tension control device is mounted.

It is customary practice in hospitals to have various personnel roll bandages into a roll by hand. This is quite time consuming but a necessary function of nurses, nurses aides or the like inasmuch as resilient stretchable-type bandages are laundered after use on patients in hospi tals after surgery. One of the main problems encountered in rolling bandages by hand is the fact that the tension or stretch placed in the bandage when it is rolled is completely uncontrolled. Thus, when a bandage is unrolled as it is applied to the patients arm, leg or wherever it is to be used, it is extremely difiicult to obtain the right tension on the bandage. Usually, stretch bandages are applied either too loose or too tight thus necessitating the bandages being removed and reapplied several times before the tension is right. This, of course, is quite time consuming and also may be harmful to the patient especially if the bandage is left on the patient in either a too loose or too tight condition.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bandage winder which includes a spindle having a slot therein receiving one end of a stretchable bandage in which the spindle is driven from an electric motor having a reduction gear head incorporated thereon. The electric motor is controlled by a switch operated by a switch;

arm extending in a position to be easily operated. A tension control device is provided on the switch arm for straightening and tensioning the bandage as it is wound onto the spindle.

The present invention materially reduces the time required to wind the bandage as compared with hand winding.

In addition, the tension on the bandage can be accurately controlled and adjusted so that the bandage roll when the bandage is to be applied to a person may be merely unrolled around the arm or leg so that the bandage will automatically maintain the same tension on the patient as was incorporated into the bandage when it was wound thus making it relatively easy for an inexperienced nurses aide or the like to properly apply a stretchable bandage.

The bandage winder is especially useful in the laundry department of a hospital, nursing home or the like in view of the saving in time over comparable hand winding procedures. Control of the electric motor is, easily accomplished by merely forcing the switch button downwardly and this switch may be a momentary contact switch so that when the switch button is released, the motor will be actuated or the switch may be a push type so that it is necessary to again depress the switch arm in order to reactivate the motor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bandage winder which is simple in construction, easy to operate, easy to adjust and control, time saving and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter de scribed and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bandage winder of the present invention illustrating the manner of use there of;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the construction of FIG. 1 illustrating the relationship of the switch arm, tension control and switch button;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken along the length of the tension control device and illustrating the association thereof with the switch;

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 44 of FIG. 3 illustrating further structural details of the tension control device; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bandage engaging tension control member.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the bandage winder of the present invention which includes a supporting base 12 of any suitable construction adapted to be placed on a supporting surface 14 such as a table or other convenient supporting surface in position so that the operators hands 16 are in a position to straighten and guide a stretchable bandage 18 as it is being wound into a roll or spool as indicated at 20 on an elongated spindle or winding fork 22 which is longitudinally elongated and tapered gradually toward the outer end and provided with a longitudinal slot 24 extending from the rounded but relatively pointed outer end for a substantial portion of its length. The spindle or winding fork 22 has only a slight taper thereon and is preferably chrome plated for cleanliness and the longitudinal slot 24 enables the bandage 18 to have the end slid therethrough or slipped in from the end for easy starting. When the roll 20 is completed or completely wound, it may be easily slipped or pulled off the tapered end and placed in a suitable container or stored in a suitable manner until used and the subsequent bandage then reattached to the spindle or winding fork 22.

The winding fork or spindle 22 is a continuation of an output shaft 26 extending laterally from a reduction gear head 28 receiving power input from an electric motor 30 which is of conventional construction and is provided with an electric conductor 32 supplying power thereto. The electric conductor 32 extends down through an aperture 34 in the hollow base 12 and extends to a switch construction 36 also disposed in the hollow base 12. A similar conductor 38 extends out through a grommet 40 in the sidewall of the hollow base 12 and is connected to a suitable source of electrical energy such as being plugged into a conventional household outlet.

A supporting plate or casting 42 is provided for the gear head 28 and motor 30 and this construction is secured to the base 14 such as by fasteners 44. A similar casting or support 46 is provided for the end of the gear head 28 remote from the motor 30 and this casting is also secured in place by a fastener 48 thus rigidly securing the motor 30 and gear head 28 to the base 12 but enabling removal thereof. Also, the gear head 28 may be detached from the motor 30 by providing mating flanges 50 secured together by a fastening bolt 52 thus providing a rigid but easily assembled and disassembled construction.

A tension control and switch actuating assembly 54 is disposed in generally parallel spaced relation to the Winding fork or spindle 22. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the axis of the winding fork 22 is disposed adjacent one edge of the base 12 while the tension mechanism and switch actuator 54 is disposed adjacent the opposite edge thereof. The tension control and switch actuator 54 includes a horizontally disposed plate 56 substantially parallel with the rotational axis of the spindle or winding fork 22 with the upper surface of the plate 56 being substantially planar and in a horizontal plane below the rotational axis of the spindle or winding fork 22. The peripheral edge of the plate 56 is downturned as at 58 to facilitate movement of the bandage 18 thereover and to eliminate any sharp edges from contact by the fingers on the hands 16 of the operator.

The plate 56 is rigidly fixed to and supported by an elongated support rod or arm 60 which is fixed to the undersurface of the plate 56 as by welding 62 or the like. The supporting arm or rod extends forwardly and terminates in a laterally extending end portion 64 which extends inwardly through an aperture 66 in the sidewall of the base 12 at a point remote from the position of the plate 56 in relation to the base 12 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The portion of the supporting arm or rod 60 which extends into the base is provided with an axial coil spring 68 having one end thereof secured to the end portion 64 of the rod 60 and the other end extending laterally and engaging the undersurface of the hollow base 12 so that the arm 60 and the plate 56 fixed thereto are springbiased upwardly so that the plate 56 is slightly spaced away from the actuating button 70 of the switch 36 which is secured to the base 12 by a screw-threaded anchoring assembly 72 as illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, if the plate 56 is pushed downwardly, it will depress the switch button 70 thus actuating the switch 36 for controlling operation of the motor 30 and thus controlling operation of the spindle or winding fork 22. The switch 36 may be of the momentary contact type or may be of the type requiring the button 70 to be depressed to turn the motor off and to be depressed again to turn the motor on. Thus, when an operators hands 16 are used to straighten the bandage 18, it is a simple matter to pull downwardly on the bandage thus pulling the plate 56 downwardly or merely engaging the thumb with the plate 56 and forcing it downwardly to actuate the switch button 70 and the switch 36 to control the motor 30 on the bandage winder.

Overlying the plate 56 in parallel relation thereto is a tension member 74 generally in the form of an elongated and relatively narrow tongue having a rounded and upcurved outer or free end 76 which extends beyond the outer end of the plate 56 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The other end of the tension member 74 is provided with a pair of depending pins or pegs 78 having rounded lower ends which extend slidably through apertures 80 formed in the plate 56- adjacent one end thereof thus supporting the tension member 74 for vertical movement in relation to the plate 56 but retaining the tension member 74 in parallel relation thereto to enable bandages of different thicknesses to be employed and to enable tension exerted on the bandage as it is being wound to be adjusted in a manner described hereinafter. The portion of the tension member 74 which projects beyond the plate 56 facilitates insertion of the bandage under the tension plate 74 inasmuch as it is only necessary to bring the edge upwardly into engagement with the upturned end 76 of the tension member 74 and then move the bandage inwardly between the tension member 74 and the plate 56.

For varying the resilient force urging the tension member 74 toward the plate 56 thus varying the frictional gripping engagement with the bandage 18, there is provided a generally U-shaped leaf spring 82 having one end thereof 84 relatively short and extending under and secured to the undersurface of the plate 56 and this end of the spring 82 is also provided with apertures receiving the pins 78 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The longer end of the leaf spring 82 designated by numeral 86 extends to a point generally intermediate the length of the tension member 74 where it is provided with a screw-threaded member 88 having a knurled or serrated gripping head 90 thereon for manual adjustment of the screw 88 in relation to the spring 82 thus varying the pressure exerted by the spring 82 on the upper surface of the tension member 74. Variation on this pressure provides variation and frictional engagement with the bandage 18 thus varying the tension with which the bandage 18 is wound into a roll 20. This construction also enables bandages of various thicknesses to be wound into a roll with the tension exerted being variable. The operators hands 16 are employed to straighten the bandage so that it will be pulled smoothly and straight between the plate 56 and the tension member 74. At any time desired, downward pressure exerted by the hands 16 on the bandage 18 will cause the tension control and switch assembly 54 to be pivoted downwardly thus operating the switch 36 or thumb pressure or finger pressure may be applied easily to the plate 56 thus moving the plate 56 downwardly to actuate the switch 36. The inner end of the offset end portion 64 of the rod 60 may be extended laterally to engage the undersurface of the base 12 to limit the upward swinging movement of the arm and tension control and switch actuator 54 thus assuring that the plate 56 and the rotational axis of the spindle or winding fork will be retained substantially the same.

By employing the bandage winder, a predetermined tension may be wound into the roll or spool 20 of stretchable bandage so that it is only necessary to have the person applying the bandage to place the free end thereof against the surface of the arm or leg and while holding the free end in position merely roll the bandage roll around the leg or arm thereby automatically introducing the same tension to the bandage when it is applied as was incorporated into the bandage when it was wound. Thus, this device not only saves substantial time in winding the bandage but also enables an inexperienced person to wind the bandage with proper tension and facilitates an inexperienced person applying the bandage to a patient in a proper manner so that it is neither too loose nor too tight thereby increasing the advantages derived from the use of such a bandage and eliminating trial and error application of the bandage in an effort to seek the proper tension therein.

If it is desired, in some instances, the bandage may be wound by letting it slip through the fingers of the operator with the operator himself controlling the tension by varying the frictional gripping engagement with the bandage. Such an arrangement may be practical Where only a relatively short bandage is to be wound or if the bandage is of such material that the tension control will not effectively operate thereon.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A bandage winder comprising a winding fork having a longitudinal slot communicating with one end thereof for receiving an end of a bandage whereby the bandage may be wound onto the winding fork when the winding fork is rotated, means supporting and driving said winding fork for rotation about a longitudinal axis disposed substantially horizontally, the end of said winding fork having the slot communicating therewith being free thus enabling the bandage to be inserted into the slot and the wound roll of bandage to be removed therefrom, said means supporting and rotating the winding fork including a supporting base, an electric motor and gear head assembly supported on the base and including an output shaft connected with the winding fork, and a switch for con trolling operation of the electric motor, said switch including an actuating member disposed adjacent the path of movement of the bandage as it is wound onto the winding fork thereby enabling the actuating member to be readily operated to control the winding operation while the bandage is being guided onto the winding fork.

2. A bandage winder comprising a winding fork having a longitudinal slot communicating with one end thereof for receiving an end of a bandage whereby the bandage may be wound onto the winding fork when the winding fork is rotated, means supporting and driving said winding fork for rotation about a longitudinal axis disposed substantially horizontally, the end of said winding fork having the slot communicating therewith being free thus enabling the bandage to be inserted into the slot and the wound roll of bandage to be removed therefrom, a tension control means engaging the bandage in spaced relation to the winding fork, said tension control means in cluding a pair of plates receiving the bandage therebetween for frictionally engaging the upper and lower surface of the bandage, said plates being disposed in substantially parallel relation to the rotational axis of the winding fork and frictionally engaging the bandage, said bandage being of stretchable material thereby introducing tension into the bandage as it is being wound to enable the rolled bandage to be placed on a patient by rolling the bandage around the portion of the patient to which the bandage is applied thereby introducing the same tension in the bandage when it is applied, said tension plates being resiliently urged towards each other, and means varying the tension on the plates for varying the tension introduced into the bandage, the uppermost of said plates being longer than the lowermost of said plates and being provided with an upturned free end portion to facilitate lateral guiding of the bandage between the plates, said means supporting and rotating the winding fork including a supporting base, an electric motor and gear head assembly supported on the base and including an output shaft connected with the winding fork, a switch for controlling operation of the electric motor, said switch including an actuating member disposed adjacent the path of movement of the bandage as it is wound onto the winding fork thereby enabling the actuating member to be readily operated to control the winding operation while the bandage is being guided onto the winding fork, said bottom tension plate being disposed in overlying relation to the switch actuating member for actuation thereof by moving the bottom tension plate downwardly into engagement with the switch actuating member, and means mounting the tension control means for movement toward and away from the switch actuating member.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said means mounting the tension control means including an elongated arm connected with the lower tension plate and including an offset end portion pivotally supported from the base, and resilient means interconnecting the offset end portion and the base for biasing the tension control means away from the switch actuating member.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein the means for varying the resilient tension exerted by the plates includes a leaf spring having one end thereof secured to the bottom plate and the other end thereof overlying the top plate, said top plate being movably supported from the bottom plate, and an adjustable screw extending through the portion of the leaf spring overlying the top plate and engaging the top plate for varying the pressure exerted on the top plate by the leaf spring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 409,447 8/1889 Block 2426O 842,302 1/ 1907 Crawford 242 848,400 3/ 1907 Sandell.

NATHAN LOI JlS MINTZ, Primary Examiner 

